Network flow refers to the movement of data or resources through a network, which can be represented as a graph. In this graph, nodes represent points of connection, such as computers or routers, while edges represent the paths or connections between them. The goal is often to optimize the flow, ensuring that resources are efficiently distributed from a source node to a destination node. In computer science and operations research, network flow problems are commonly analyzed using algorithms like the Ford-Fulkerson method or Edmonds-Karp algorithm. These methods help determine the maximum flow possible through a network while adhering to constraints, such as capacity limits on the edges.